I do not usually include “the nuclear powere indistry” to our issue of keeping the ban, but there are no longer valid reasons to separate the two phases of the industry. As is made clear, in this as yet un-verified report from the Japanese Nuclear Power Industry’s melt down problem at the TEPCO Ind. plant at Fukushima Dai-ichi, we are dealing with a problem of global proportions. READ IT!! http://akiomatsumura.com/2012/04/682.html

Tuesday, April 10, 2012 through Friday, April 12, 2012 23rd Annual Environment Virginia Symposium “Collaboration. Innovation. Results.”, three days at the Center for Leadership and Ethics, Marshall Hall, VMI Campus, Lexington. Featured topics include uranium mining, unconventional natural gas, renewable energy projects in Virginia, Virginia’s revised storm water management regulations, getting to zero waste, sustainability in higher education, land use and conservation. For information on all 44 sessions and the featured speakers and to register go to www.vmi.edu/environmentva or call 540-464-7361.

Lightly on the Ground Radio features Olga Kolutushkina of Fairfax, VA and Mike Pucci of Littleton, NC. They were in Richmond to attend the 3rd of a series of briefings by members of the National Academies of Science who produced a report on uranium mining. Here’s a link: http://dels.nas.edu/Report/Uranium-Mining-Virginia-Scientific-Technical/13266 . Olga is legislative and regulatory adviser to… the Roanoke River Basin Association and Mike is a water scientist who lives in the watershed south of the proposed uranium mining and milling site. He tells why North Carolina should be included in the discussion. Olga illuminates the money trail from Canada through Virginia and back. At noon, April 4 on WRIR.ORG and 97.3 fm

Uranium Working Group – Home This has got to be one of the least informative government websites to date. Read the FAQs. Clear as mud? The only clear thing I read is that the Commonwealth of VA is using major resources to lift a ban on uranium mining so one company can “get its rocks off” at Coles Hill. In doing so, it will open the rest of VA to the same. http://www.uwg.vi.virginia.gov/

Learning lessons from water crisis http://www2.godanriver.com/news/2012/mar/28/learning-lessons-water-crisis-ar-1798670/ “This is an issue in the uranium mining debate: The problems Danville’s water customers are experiencing are temporary, but the questions raised about the proposed uranium mine and mill in rural Pittsylvania County are relevant because if that project were to damage well water supplies, the people affected would have to use bottled water for a long time.

Over the years, we’ve heard uranium mining opponents make some superfluous arguments against uranium mining, but drinking water remains the most relevant for the largest number of people in this community.”

This is an issue in the uranium mining debate: The problems Danville’s water customers are experiencing are temporary, but the questions raised about the proposed uranium mine and mill in rural Pittsylvania County are relevant because if that project were to damage well water supplies, the people affected would have to use bottled water for a long time.

Over the years, we’ve heard uranium mining opponents make some superfluous arguments against uranium mining, but drinking water remains the most relevant for the largest number of people in this community.

Please encourage everyone to go!Uranium Mining in Virginia: Scientific, Technical, Environmental, Human Health and Safety, and Regulatory Aspects of Uranium Mining and Processing in Virginia. Several members of the committee that wrote the report will present its findings and take questions from the public in several locations next week. Here are the details:Committee attendees at all meetings will be Paul Locke, Scott Brooks, Bill Field, Keith Eshleman, Peter deFur, and Henry Schnell http://dels.nas.edu/Report/Uranium-Mining-Virginia-Scientific-Technical/13266